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VOLUME 10 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2021 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Role of Fetal Abdominal Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness in Predicting Large for Gestational Age in Gestational Diabetes

Mohan Smitha

Keywords : Birth weight, Fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness, Gestational diabetes mellitus, Large for gestational age, Ultrasound

Citation Information : Smitha M. Role of Fetal Abdominal Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness in Predicting Large for Gestational Age in Gestational Diabetes. 2021; 10 (1):2-4.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10085-8134

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 07-08-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic complications in pregnancy associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, one of which is large for gestational age (LGA) baby. Large for gestational age fetuses have increased subcutaneous fat deposition in the abdomen. This can be measured by fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness (FASTT) using ultrasound. This review has highlighted the usefulness of FASTT as a predictor of LGA neonate in GDM. Objectives: The present review is aimed to determine the usefulness of FASTT measurement as a predictor of large for gestational age neonate in gestational diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: An electronic search strategy was used to select the studies from different databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO, Research Gate. A combination of keywords like FASTT, GDM, birth weight (BW), and ultrasound was used to select the studies. Inclusion criteria were English language, duration of search 15 years, cohort, and observational studies only. However, systematic reviews and meta-analyses were excluded from the review. The total number of articles reviewed was 48 out of which only 12 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The selected articles were further assessed for the quality of the research and included in the review. Conclusion: Fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness had a positive correlation with BW and can discriminate between small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and LGA neonates. Fetal abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness is a useful tool to predict LGA neonates in GDM.


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